Adele leads the pack of nominees for this year’s American Music Awards, collecting four nominations in categories including Artist of the Year and Favorite Female Artist (Pop/Rock Music). Following closely on her heels are Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and The Band Perry follow with three each, and Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Jason Aldean, Kanye West, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and Pitbull with two a piece. The 2011 American Music Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, November 20th (8-11pm ET/PT) on ABC.
The AMAs also announced today that Katy Perry and Pitbull are confirmed to perform.
Winners of this year’s AMAs will be determined by online voting at amavote.com.
2011 AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES
POP or ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Justin Bieber
Bruno Mars
Pitbull
Favorite Female Artist
Adele
Lady Gaga
Katy Perry
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
LMFAO
Maroon 5
OneRepublic
Favorite Album
Adele/21
Lady Gaga/Born This Way
Rihanna/Loud
COUNTRY MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Favorite Female Artist
Sara Evans
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Favorite Band, Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band
Lady Antebellum
Favorite Album
Jason Aldean/My Kinda Party
The Band Perry/The Band Perry
Taylor Swift/Speak Now
RAP/HIP-HOP MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Lil Wayne
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Favorite Album
Jay-Z & Kanye West/Watch The Throne
Lil Wayne/Tha Carter IV
Nicki Minaj/Pink Friday
SOUL/RHYTHM & BLUES MUSIC
Favorite Male Artist
Chris Brown
Trey Songz
Usher
Favorite Female Artist
Beyonce
Rihanna
Kelly Rowland
Favorite Album
Beyonce/4
Chris Brown/F.A.M.E.
Rihanna/Loud
ALTERNATIVE ROCK MUSIC
Favorite Artist
The Black Keys
Foo Fighters
Mumford & Sons
ADULT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Adele
Bruno Mars
Katy Perry
LATIN MUSIC
Favorite Artist
Enrique Iglesias
Jennifer Lopez
Pitbull
May 4, 2012 – Mark that date on your calendar. That’s when The Avengers will hit theaters directed by Joss Whedon and starring Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Chris Evans as Captain America, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, and Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury. The superhero superteam will be going up against Loki (Tom Hiddleston) as they attempt to keep our world safe. Or, as Downey Jr says in the trailer, “If we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damn sure we’ll avenge it.”
This could affect your TV viewing habits, and it’ll definitely impact your nightlife if you’re a baseball fan, as unfortunately the first two weeks of the basketball season have officially been canceled.
“The NBA announced today that it has canceled the first two weeks of the 2011-12 regular season because a new collective bargaining agreement has not been reached with the National Basketball Players Association. This cancellation includes all games originally scheduled to be played through November 14.
‘Despite extensive efforts, we have not been able to reach a new agreement with the players’ union that allows all 30 teams to be able to compete for a championship while fairly compensating our players,’ NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver said.
Refunds plus interest are available for all NBA season-ticket holders for all preseason and regular-season games that are canceled.”
One Tree Hill actor Chad Michael Murray will be at the New York Comic Con to promote his graphic novel Everlast October 14-15, with an appearance at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side in NYC on October 14th where he’ll be signing copies of the book for fans. Archaia Entertainment is releasing Everlast, which is written by Murray and illustrated by Trevor Hairsine (X-Men), Andrew Huerta (Batman Beyond), Robbi Rodriguez (Moon Lake), J.K. Woodward (Fallen Angel) and Danijel Zezelj (Luna Park).
“Everlast has been a passion project of mine for eight years now,” stated Murray. “Every aspect of creating this world and journey has been incredible. I’ve been fortunate to learn from great people along the way and sought help from top artists to bring in the visuals we use to tell this story. Here’s to an adventure I can’t wait for the fans to embark on and hopefully hold onto as much as I do.”
The Plot:
A pre-apocalyptic tale, Everlast follows Derek Everlast, a man whose destiny in life is guiding others to a place of rebirth for mankind called Haven. Following an instinct called the Nudge, bestowed on him by a higher power, Derek is guided to the next chosen human destined to survive, a little girl named Melissa. In a harrowing adventure, he must deliver her safely to Haven before the End of Days. Everlast tells a story of choice, love, friendship, and, most of all, survival. Will you be chosen?
In addition, a supplemental short story titled Phoenix written by Murray and illustrated by Woodward is now available for free on Chad Michael Murray’s official website.
Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo’s popular Headhunters novel will become an English-language feature film. Summit Entertainment, the studio best known for putting out the Twilight film series, has picked up the rights to make the bestseller into a movie.
“Headhunters introduces us to the charming villain Roger Brown, a man who seems to have it all: he is Norway’s most successful headhunter, married to the beautiful gallery owner Diana, owns a magnificent house – and is living larger than he should. Meanwhile, he is playing at the dangerous game of art theft. At a gallery opening, his wife introduces him to the Dutchman Clas Greve. Not only is Greve the perfect candidate for the CEO position of the GPS company Pathfinder that Roger Brown is recruiting for; he is also in possession of ”The Calydonian Boar Hunt” by Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most sought-after paintings in modern art history. Roger sees his chance to become financially independent, and starts planning his biggest hit ever. But soon, he runs into trouble – and it’s not financial problems that are threatening to knock him over this time…”
A Scandinavian movie adaptation of Headhunters debuted in Oslo in August.
The critically acclaimed drama has already been picked up for a fifth season, with AMC announcing in August that they’re bringing the show back for a 16 episode season five in 2012. The series is considered “the most engaging series on television according to Nielsen’s IAG, which measures program engagement and ad effectiveness,” so says AMC.
Watch the “Inside Breaking Bad: Episode 413, Face Off” video:
Tim Sullivan will be co-writing and directing a feature film based on The Doors co-founder Ray Manzarek’s bestseller The Poet in Exile. Sullivan optioned the film rights, with Manzarek involved as a producer and Gavin Heffernan and Liz Sullivan tapped to co-write the project.
Sullivan, who produced the unreleased documentary on The Doors of the 21st Century’s reunion tour, says the spirit of Jim and the 1960s live on in Ray Manzarek. “Ever since I first read Poet, I knew it would make an amazing film,” said Sullivan. “Ideals and dreams never die, but they often have a difficult time breaking through to new generations. That’s what this story is about, the perseverance of love and truth, as embodied in the deep bond and friendship between two incredible artists.”
The Poet in Exile is set to shoot in 2012 and will mark the first film on The Doors originated by a band member. Says Manzarek, “The number one question I get asked is, ‘Do you think Jim Morrison’s really dead?’ All I can say is, I personally have not seen or heard from Jim since he left for Paris 40 years ago. And I miss that guy. He was a poet. A Dionysus to my Apollo. A great performer, a shaman. And a damn good friend. The real Jim, the human Jim, always gets overshadowed by the Morrison myths and legends. But that’s the Jim I captured with the book and, along with Tim Sullivan, seek to capture with the film.”
The Poet in Exile Synopsis:
Manzarek’s novel explores the notion “what if” his former bandmate, the iconic rock and roll poet and legend Jim Morrison, did indeed stage his death in 1971 (as widely speculated), and now, 40 years later, contacts Manzarek from his hiding place in the Seychelles Islands to embark on one final journey of rock and roll rebellion.
More on Ray Manzarek:
American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors. Ray Manzarek first met Jim Morrison at UCLA where they both studied film. Forty days after graduation, they re-met by chance in Venice Beach, California, where Morrison sang Manzarek some songs he had written. Manzarek thought the songs were pure poetry and co-founded The Doors with Morrison right then and there. The rest is rock and roll history. Since the death of Jim Morrison in 1971, Manzarek has continued to chase the muse. As a musician, he has released several solo albums of both his own and in collaboration, including the current release Translucent Blues with jazz guitarist Roy Rogers. As filmmaker, he wrote and directed the noir mystery Love Her Madly (2004). As bestselling author, he has published several books, including Light My Fire, his memoirs of life with The Doors, the supernatural Civil War thriller Snake Moon and The Poet in Exile, the fictional account of a modern day reunion between himself and Morrison. As Manzarek/Krieger, Manzarek is currently on tour with fellow Doors band mate and lead guitarist Robby Krieger.
Shirley MacLaine - PRNewsFoto/American Film Institute
Actress and author Shirley MacLaine has been chosen to receive the 40th AFI Life Achievement Award as announced today by Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the American Film Institute’s Board of Trustees. The AFI Life Achievement Award is the highest honor for a career in film, according to the AFI press release. “The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time,” per AFI’s official standards used in selecting the honoree.
MacLaine will be presented with the prestigious award on June 7, 2012.
Commenting on the choice of MacLaine as the next recipient of the Life Achievement Award, Stringer stated, “Shirley MacLaine is a powerhouse of personality that has illuminated screens large and small across six decades. From ingénue to screen legend, Shirley has entertained a global audience through song, dance, laughter and tears, and her career as writer, director and producer is even further evidence of her passion for the art form and her seemingly boundless talents. There is only one Shirley MacLaine, and it is AFI’s honor to present her with its 40th Life Achievement Award.”
MacLaine will be joining a list of AFI Life Achievement Award winners that includes Elizabeth Taylor, James Cagney, Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, Alfred Hitchcock, Fred Astaire, Billy Wilder, Jack Lemmon, Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas, Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Martin Scorsese, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, George Lucas, Al Pacino, Michael Douglas, and Sean Connery.
More on Shirley MacLaine [Courtesy of AFI]:
Shirley MacLaine’s illustrious career comprises more than 50 feature films highlighted by an Academy Award® win and six nominations, six Emmy® Awards nominations, seven Golden Globe® Awards – including the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award – and the title of international best-selling author. Recently, MacLaine appeared in the ensemble film, VALENTINE’S DAY, and the Lifetime made-for-TV movie COCO CHANEL, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe® and SAG Award®. She released her best-selling book “SAGE-ING WHILE AGE-ING” in 2008, followed by her latest New York Times best-seller, “I’M OVER ALL THAT – AND OTHER CONFESSIONS,” released on April 5th, 2011. In the fall of 2011, she received France’s most prestigious cultural award, the Legion of Honor, presented by France’s Minister of Culture and Communication, Frederic Mitterrand, at the French Cinematheque.
MacLaine made her professional debut dancing in a Broadway revival of OKLAHOMA! in the 1950s. Her first film appearance was in Alfred Hitchcock’s THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY, earning her a Golden Globe Award for “New Star of the Year – Actress” in 1955. At the same time, she starred in SOME COME RUNNING, which led to her first Academy Award® nomination and an additional Golden Globe® nomination. She also starred alongside Audrey Hepburn in THE CHILDREN’S HOUR, based on a play by Lillian Hellman. MacLaine received a second Oscar® nomination for her work in the award winning film, THE APARTMENT, co-starring Jack Lemmon and directed by Billy Wilder. She reunited with Lemmon and Wilder for IRMA LA DOUCE in 1963, earning yet another Academy Award® nomination.
In 1975, MacLaine received her fourth Oscar® nomination, this time for best documentary as a producer and star of THE OTHER HALF OF THE SKY: A CHINA MEMOIR. Two years later, she was once again nominated for her starring role in THE TURNING POINT. In 1983, MacLaine finally won an Oscar for her work in TERMS OF ENDEARMENT. Later, she also received a Golden Globe® Award for her 1989 performance in MADAME SOUSATZKA. MacLaine was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Golden Globe Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1998.
MacLaine’s additional credits include notable films such as STEEL MAGNOLIAS with Julia Roberts, POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE with Meryl Streep, IN HER SHOES with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette, and RUMOR HAS IT with Jennifer Aniston and Kevin Costner.
MacLaine’s television credits include the telefilms, “THESE OLD BROADS,” “CAROLINA” and “SALEM WITCH TRIALS.” She also starred in the CBS miniseries, “HELL ON HEELS: THE BATTLE OF MARY KAY,” the life story of the cosmetics queen Mary Kay Ash.
A longtime outspoken advocate for civil rights and liberties, women’s rights, and spiritual understanding, MacLaine is known for her faith in reincarnation, angels, the power of crystals and other New Age beliefs. She addresses these topics at length, as well as her Hollywood career, in her books, OUT ON A LIMB and DANCING IN THE NIGHT. MacLaine went on to author numerous other books including THE CAMINO and OUT ON A LEASH, all of which are international bestsellers.
MacLaine can be seen next in BERNIE, staring Jack Black and Matthew McConaughey. She can also be seen on stage during her one-woman show tour as it hits cities across the globe, combining a montage of memorable film moments with private revelations about her extraordinary life, career and spiritual journey.
Source: American Film Institute – October 10, 2011
In this interview video provided by Universal Pictures, Joel Edgerton (terrific in the recently released Warrior) talks about his latest movie – The Thing. Edgerton discusses his character, the story, the psychology of the film, the characters’ paranoia, and the authenticity of the sets.
The Plot: Antarctica: an extraordinary continent of awesome beauty. It is also home to an isolated outpost where a discovery full of scientific possibility becomes a mission of survival when an alien is unearthed by a crew of international scientists. The shape-shifting creature, accidentally unleashed at this marooned colony, has the ability to turn itself into a perfect replica of any living being. It can look just like you or me, but inside, it remains inhuman. In the thriller The Thing, paranoia spreads like an epidemic among a group of researchers as they’re infected, one by one, by a mystery from another planet.
Paleontologist Kate Lloyd (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has traveled to the desolate region for the expedition of her lifetime. Joining a Norwegian scientific team that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice, she discovers an organism that seems to have died in the crash eons ago. But it is about to wake up. When a simple experiment frees the alien from its frozen prison, Kate must join the crew’s pilot, Carter (Joel Edgerton), to keep it from killing them off one at a time. And in this vast, intense land, a parasite that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish.
Adele leads the pack of nominees for this year’s American Music Awards, collecting four nominations in categories including Artist of the Year and Favorite Female Artist (Pop/Rock Music). Following closely on her heels are Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and The Band Perry follow with three each, and Beyonce, Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, Jason Aldean, Kanye West, LMFAO, Nicki Minaj and Pitbull with two a piece. The 2011 American Music Awards will be broadcast live on Sunday, November 20th (8-11pm ET/PT) on ABC. 
Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo’s popular Headhunters novel will become an English-language feature film. Summit Entertainment, the studio best known for putting out the 
